Electromagnetic pipe organ action



Jan. 8, 1935. v- F24 BROWN ET AL ELECTROMAGNETIC PIPE ORGAN ACTION Filed July 26. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Magnin Jan. 8, 1935. v Ri BROWN ET AL 1,986,956

ELECTROMAGNETIC PIPE ORGAN ACTION Filed July 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3f aw #Trae/vir Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Vernie Roy Brown and Albert G. Sabol, Lawrence, Kans.

Application July 26, 1933, Serial No. 682,232

19 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in electromagnetic pipe organ actions, and the main object is to provide a simple and elcient electromagnetically operated means for opening and closing the valves of a pipe organ or performing other operations in connection with the mechanical and tonal elements of the organ.

Another and important object is the provision of an improved operating means especially for use in an organ valve chamberor chest and in the form of anfelectromagnet and armature with the latter carrying the organ valve and both including cooperating features designed to effect a relatively strong pull at the instant the valve leaves its seat whereby to break the air seal by which the air pressure in the valve chamber holds the valve to itsseat. To this end the armature has an opening adjacent the end of the electromagnet core and adapted to clear same as the armature swings toward the magnet and a relatively large iron washer is placed over this core some distance from its end to increase the area, extent and intensity of the magnetic force attracting the armature.

Another object is to provide such an assembly wherein the pivotal joint or point whichr the armature swings is of novel and efficient form requiring no hinge pin and hence eliminating the mechanical and magnetic friction generally encountered at this point.

Still a further object is to provide an assembly employing a minimum of parts, and comprising simply a bracket, an electromagnet secured in the bracket, an armature pivotally attached to the bracket in operative relationship to the electromagnet, a valve secured on the armature, and a spring connected to the armature to normally hold the valve in a certain position, from which it is moved by action of the electromagnet.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will appear, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a cross section through a valve action constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the same applied to an organ valve board also shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is an end view of the assembly shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form `of the invention also showing the organ valve board in cross section.

Figure 4 is a. fragmental detail view in cross section showing an alternative method of attaching the valve to the armature.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a further method of attaching the valve to the armature. 5

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing yet another modied form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a side View of the assembly of Figure 6, the valve being shown opened.

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8 8 in Figure l.

Figure 9 is a section along the line 9-9 in Figure 6.

Figure l0 is an enlarged section along the line 10-10 in Figure 9. 15

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings and in carrying out the embodiment of our invention shown in Figures l and 2, a bracket or frame 6 is provided, comprising a mounting ear 7 pierced with screw holes 8, a leg 9 turned 20 at right angles thereto and a foot 10 turned at right angles to the leg 9 and extended in parallelism, but in opposite direction to, said ear 7. As conventionally mounted beneath the valve board A of an organ valve chamber, the leg 9 is disposed substantially vertically and the foot 10 then extends horizontally beneath the board at some distance therefrom, the bracket being supported by screws 11 passed through the holes 8 into the valve board. It is understood, however, that this mounting may vary as needed to meet the various exigencies which may arise in adapting the device for use in any suitable part of the organ. The valve board A has the conventional valve opening B pierced through from top to bottom and the bracket 6 is mounted with the ear 7 set considerably to one side of this opening and with the foot l0 passing therebeneath with its free end extending some distance beyond the axis or center line of said opening, as clearly evident in Figure l.

An electromagnet core 12 of iron and of an elongated form and circular cross section is secured to the leg 9 at substantially a medial point thereof by means of a screw 13 passed through the leg and axially into one end of the core so that said core is supported above the bracket foot 10 in parallelism therewith. The core 12 is somewhat shorter than the foot l0, whereby its outer end 14 falls short of a vertical alignment with the corresponding end of the foot. A bobbin or spool for the electromagnet winding is formed with the core l2 as its center by means of the end pieces l5 and 16 of fibre or similar insulating material, both having central openings 17 for press fitting on the core and one being disposed alongside the bracket leg 9 and the other at some distance therefrom and inwardly of the core end 14. The wire is then wound between these end pieces and 16 as designated at 18 and its ends brought out to terminals and thence to the energizing and controlling circuit (not shown) in any conventional and well known manner. The outermost end piece 16 or the one nearest the outer end- 14 of the core 12 is considerably thicker than the other (15) and its outer face is angularly beveled off at 19 and countersunk at 2() around its central opening 17 to receive a seal pull washer 21 of iron, which is pressed therein and thus mounted at an oblique angle relative to the axis of the core and inclining downwardly and outwardly away from the bracket leg 9. Over this` washer 21 a felt pad or washer 22 is placed and glued to act as a buiTer, as willv be hereinafter pointed out. Y

The outer end of the bracket foot 10 is cut or notched out usually at 23 to provide spaced iingers 24 between which an armature 25 is set and movably connected by means of notches 26 cut in its lateral margins to receive the said ngers as shown. This armature (and the aforesaid bracket 6) is made of-flat strip iron or similar ferrous material, and the armature includes an elongated straight portion or leg 2'7 and a finger 28 bent at right angles from the intended upper end thereof. The notches 26 are cut in the armature at some distance above its lower end 29 and .the notches are, of course, sufficiently large to permit the necessary clearance at the iingers24 to permit the armature to rock or swing at this point. Normally the upper end of the armature 25 is swung outward away from the electromagnet by a retractile coil spring 30 hooked at one end through an opening 31 in the lower end of ythe armature and extended to and hooked in an eye screw 32 screwed upward at 33 into the bracket foot 10 at some distance inwardly from its notched end, the extent of this movement of the armature by the spring being limited by a means hereinafter described, to the point that the armature stands substantially vertical and just clears the end 14 of the core 12. A clearance opening 34 is provided in the armature in alignment with the core 12 and is slightly elongated vertically and cut suiiiciently large to clear the end of the core as the armature swings inward toward the electromagnet. A buier pad 35 of felt or similar soft resilient material is placed between the fingers 24 against the outer side of the armature and is heldin place and pressed against said armature by a pin 36 passed through the ngers as shown.

A circular disk-like valve 37 is provided on the upper side of the armature linger 28 and comprises a fibre or similar hard composition base disk 38, a felt disk 39 and iinally and uppermost a thin disk 40 of ne leather of the kind gener ally termed organ leather. This leather disk 40 seats against the underside of the valve board A around the margin of the opening B and the overall thickness of the valve and length of the armature is such that the armature is held in the hereinbefore described vertical position by this valve contacting the valve board as will be apparent in the drawings. The valve is secured to the. armature in the structure shown in Figure 1 by a short dowel 41 press fitted into aligned apertures 42 and 43 in the armature ringer 28 and base disk 38 respectively, but as an alternative construction, the aperture 42 may be only partially punched through the nger 28 and the slug 44 left projecting above to enter the aperture 43, asV

shown in Figure 4, this arrangement eliminating the dowel 41. As a further alternative construction the valve may be mounted by an eyelet 45 placed and served through alined apertures 46 in the ear 28 and disk 38 (Figure 5).

In operation, the winding 18 is energized or excited by pressing the organ key or operating any other control element (not shown) in the usual manner and the core 12 is thus magnetized and the armature 25 attracted thereby. The armature then swings over toward the electromagnet to the position shown in dotted lines (Figure 1) and the valve 87 is swung away from the valve board A, allowing air to flow through the openingrB and thence into the organ pipe (not shown) in the usual manner. The extent of this opening movement is limited by the armature striking the felt washer 22 and noise isl thus prevented at this point. In similar manner the pad 35 prevents rattling or iiutter at the pivotal or rocking point of the armature while yet permitting the necessary play and motion of the parts at this point.l Inasmuch as the point at which the armature rocks on the bracket is located considerably below the valve board and olfset laterally from and eccentric to the extended center lne or axis of the valve opening B and valve 37, the arc through which the valve swings carries it laterally away from its seat at an oblique angle and one edge leaves the seat before the other and following edges or sides, this being what might be termed a radial motion of the valve. The effect is to break the seal at first through a small area or point (X in Figure 1) so that air may begin to rush through the opening B and relieve the valve of air pressure (of which there is considerable below the valve board) and allow it to swing freely away from its seat. This is an important and advantageous point since it greatly reduces the force needed to unseat the valve with resulting decrease in current drawn by the electromagnet as well as other savings. In addition to the aforesaid arrangement and operation of the armature to break the air seal, the construction of the electromagnet and its position relative to the armature results in a strong initial pull on the armature when the winding 18 is energized, thus it may be said, overcoming the tendency of the valve to stick or hold to its seatV on account of the air pressure. This strong initial pull on the armature is brought about iirst by the relatively close juxtaposition of the armature to the core end 14 and the large area of the core used made possible by the clearance aperture 34 together with the iron washer 21 which increases the area of the pulling surface of the core and enhances its value of attraction to the armature, as will be understood. The angularity of the seal pull washer 2l and felt pad 22 conforms exactly to the angular position of the armature 25 when the valve is opened to its fullest extent, thus presenting the pad 22 in proper position to most efectually stop and absorb the jar of the armature and the seal pull washer in proper posi tion to aiect and influence the armature to the fullest extent as described.

Attention is further called to the position of the spring 30 below the bracket foot 10. In'this position the spring is removed from the mag` netic circuit iiowing through the armature, through the bracket foot 10 and leg 9 and thence back to the core 12. As is well known the lines of force in structures of this kind take the shortestpossiblegpathfin completing their circuit and theyrarershuntedfaround .the yspringfBO Vwhich would not bethe caserwere the spring above the bracketifoot;l Thecrystallization andother injuriousiff-effectsonk springs lying in the magnetic path'zare well known andrequire no enumeration herein.-

The'notch andznger type of connectionbetween-,the armature and bracket besides greatly facilitatingsconstruction and assembly, provides afsmooth workingijoint and eliminates considerableffriction,v it being understood that a conventionalhinge pinned join*u at this point would bezsubject `not alone,` to mechanical friction but also vto magnetic friction brought* about by the tendency of the pin and hinge parts to stick and hold-'togetherzunder'the influence or" the magnetic force traveling therethrough.

In thewembodiment of. the invention shown in Figure 3, the construction is exactly as hereinbefore described with the exception of the ear 28a` of thezarmature 25a, which in this case is bent from the lstraight portions 27a at an oblique.y and obtuse angle rather than a right angle and conforms to theangular formation and position ,of thevalve seatC on the valve board A. The valve 37a is thus so supported as to properly engage and rest against this seat in its normal position asshown. This angular position of the r valve and seat C enhances the seal breaking operation-ofthe valve'as it rst opens, since the valve leaves-the seat more'obliquely and directly as evident in the dotted lines.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures-Sand r'7 the. bracket or frame 6b has the mounting ear 7b and downwardly turned leg 9b similar to the bracket in Figure l but this leg 9b at its lower end has an obliquely bent or extended electromagnet seat or rest portion 47 having an aperture 48 in which is press fitted the end of the'lelectromagnet core 12b whereby the electromagnet is supported at an angle of substantially forty-rive degrees to the extended axis of the valve opening: B ln valve board A and extends from said.- seat portion angularly upward beneath said opening. 'I'hey foot 10b of the bracket 6b is then turned /fromxthis seat portion 47 angularly upward. beneath the electromagnet and has its extreme end or toe portion 49 preferably extended substantiallyiin-parallelism with said core 12b. The. armature -25b has the notches 28h adapted to fltbetween the fingers 24h formed at the end or toe. portion 49 of the foot 10b whereby the amature is pivotally attached to the bracket as described hereinbefore and from this point the armature extends angularly upward across the end ofthe electromagnet core 12b and terminates at its upper end in an obliquely bent finger 28D to which valve 37b is secured. A retractile coil spring 30h stretched between the downward extension 29h ofthe armature and a screw 32h in the bracket (5b-normally holds the valve 37b to its seat against the underside of the valve board A as shown-in Figure 6. Upon energization, of the electromagnet winding 10b however the armature 25h isattracted by the core 12b and rocks on its pivotal point to the position shown in Figure 'l in which the valve 37b vis swung clear of 'the valve opening B. At the limit of the movement, the

armature 25h-contacts the felt buffer washer 22h on the end of the electromagnet. It will be noted that this peculiar angular relationship between the electromagnet core 12b and armature 25h allows the iron seal pull washer 2lb and the felt 3 washerfZZIi to, be placed-in thecore atrightI angles to the axis x thereof instead: of` obliquelyVY asshown in.Figures;1 andl3 thusifacilitatingV manufacture and'xassembly Aofth'eseparts The. remaining partsV andtheirfoperation or function are substantially they samey as. described hereinbefore andi no further `descriptiontis. thought necessary'. As in the. embodimentzlnFigure 3 the angular position of thev armature en'hances'the. seal breaking operation ofv theA valve since it' leaves its seat more directly and obliquely as evident in Figure 7.

Inlieu ofthe pin 36 for holding the buffer pad 35 in place as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the pad 35h in this last embodimentisheld in place by' a U-shaped'spring clip 50v having bosses 51 pressed inward from its spaced'legs -52 and adapted to snap into small depressions 53 formed in both the upper and lower .sides of the fingers 24h as clearly shown. This: clipv50 may be readily put in place `or removed as will be apparent.

Otherpossible-variations inthe construction andarrangement of partsY willbe apparent and while we have hereinl set forth certain preferred embodiments of our invention, it is understood that we may'vary therefrom in minor structural details so as. bestto construct a practical device for the purposes intended,` not departing from the spirit of the invention `andwithin the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:l

1. In a device of the kind .describeda bracket, an electromagnet including a core extendedfat one end, the said bracket including a foot' portion extended in parallelism with theelectromagnet core, an armature movabl-y connected adjacent one end to the said foot portion andzextendedacross the extended end of the core,v the said armature having a clearance vopening in alignment with the core,` means for normally holding the armature at right angles tothe core adjacent-the extended 'y end thereof, and a seal pullvwasher of ferrous metal mounted on the core inwardly from the extended end thereof, the said seal pull washer beingvv disposed obliquely relative to the axis of the core to conform to the angular position assumed'by the armature as it swingsV on its movable connection over the said core.'l

2. In an electromagnet construction of the kind described, a bracket including a. foot portion, an

electromagnet core mounted at one end on the bracket andI extended in parallelism with the foot portion thereof, end piecesmounted on the core one at the end thereof attached to the bracket and the other spaced inwardly from the free extended end of the core, an electromagnetic winding on the core between the end pieces, the end piece adjacent the free end of the core being beveled off obliquelyon its outer face, a seal pull washer of ferrous metal mounted on the beveled face ofthe end piece,'a washer of resilient material mounted over the said seal pull washer, and an armatureoperatively associated with the electromagnet.

3. In a device of the kind'described, a bracket including an extended foot portion, an electromagnet mounted on the bracket,`spaced fingers extended from the free end of the foot portion of the bracket, an armature having notches intermediate its ends loosely engaging and receiving (ill board of a pipe organ, the said valve board having a valve opening, a bracket mounted on the valve board and including a foot portion positioned below the valve opening, an electromagnet mounted on the bracket, an armature movably connected to the foot portion of the bracket at a point spaced from an alignment with the axis of the valve opening, the said armature extending from the foot portion upward toward the valve board and operatively associated with the electromagnet, an ear turned at right angles from the upper end of the armature adjacent and in registry with the valve opening, and a valve mounted on the said ear and normally seating against the underside of the valve board around the valve opening.

5. In a valve action for mounting on the valve board of a pipe organ, the said valve board having a valve opening and an obliquely cut valve seat, a bracket including a foot portion disposed below the valve board in parallelism therewith, an electromagnet mounted on the bracket, an armature movably connected to the foot portion of the bracket at a point spaced from the axis of the valve opening, the said armature being extended vertically upward toward the valve board in operative association with the said electromagnet, an ear bent at an oblique angle from the upper end of the armature in parallelism with the valve seat and adjacent the valve opening, and a valve mounted on the said ear and adapted to engage the said valve seat.

6. In an organ action for mounting on a valve board having a valve opening; a bracket mounted on the valve board, an electromagnet carried by the bracket, a valve for closing the valve opening, an armature fulcrurned on the bracket on an axis to one side of the longitudinal axis of thev opening and carrying the said valve, the electromagnet having a core disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis of the opening and coacting with the armature between the said fulcrum and valve.

7. In an organ action for mounting on a valve board having a valve opening; a bracket mounted on the valve board, an electromagnet carried by the bracket, a valve for closing the Valve opening, an armature fulcrurned on the bracket on an axis to one side of the longitudinal axis of the opening and carrying the said valve, the electromagnet having a core disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis of the opening and extending beyond the remainder of the electromagnet and coacting with the armaturebetween the said fulcrurn and valve, and the armature having an opening in line with said core enabling the armature to be attracted in telescoped relation over the extension of said core.

8. In an organ action according to claim 6, a ferrous seal-pull means on the end of the electromagnet adjacent the armature.

9. In an organ action according to claim 6, a ferrous seal-pull means on the end of the electromagnet adjacent the armature, and a resilient means disposed against said seal-pull means for cushioning engagement by the armature.

10. In an organ action according to claim 6, the bracket and armature having parts interiitted to provide said fulcrum.

11. In an organ action according to claim 6, the bracket and armature having parts interiitted to provide said fulcrum, a buffer pad mounted between said parts, and means connected to the bracket and armature urging the valve toward the opening of the valve board.

12. In an organ action according to claim 6, the corel of the electromagnet extending across the longitudinal axis of the opening and terminating short of the said fulcrum.

13. In an organ action for mounting on a valve board having. a valve opening; a bracket mounted on the valve board having a leg on one side of the longitudinal axis of said opening, an electromagnet carried by the leg, a valve for closing the valve opening, an armature fulcrumed on the bracket on an axis on the other side of the longitudinal axis of said opening and carrying said valve, the electromagnet having a core disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis of the opening and coacting with the armature between the said fulcrum and valve.

14. In an organ action for mounting on a valve board having a valve opening; a bracket mounted on the valve board having a leg'on one side of the longitudinal axis of the opening, an electromagnet carried by the leg, a valve for closing the valve opening, a foot at the lower end of said bracket extending across said axis, an armature fulcrumed on the foot on an axis on the other side oi the longitudinal axis of said opening and carrying said valve, the electromagnet having a core disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis of the opening and coacting with the said armature between the said fulcrum and valve.

15. In an organ action according, to claim 13, the leg of the bracket being on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the Valve opening to the fulcrum. y

16. In an organ action according to claim 14, the foot and bracket having interfitted parts providing the said ulcrum.

1'?. In an organ action for mounting on a valve board having a valve opening; a bracket mounted on the valve board having a leg on one side of the longitudinal axis of said opening, said leg having an oblique portion, an electromagnet carried by the oblique portion, a foot extending from the lower end of the oblique portion across the said axis, a valve for closing the valve opening, an armature substantially paralleltosaid oblique portion fulcrumed on the bracket on an axis on the other side of the longitudinal axis of said opening and carrying said valve, the electromagnet having a core disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis of the opening and coacting with the armature between the said fulcrum and valve.

18. In an organ action according to claim 17, the foot and armatiue having intertting parts providing the fulcrum, a seal-pull means on the electromagnet, the core extending beyond the seal-pull means toward the armature, and said armature having an opening in line with said core enabling the armature to be attracted in telescoped relation over the extension of said core.

19. In an organ action according to claimt, the axis of the core of the electromagnet and the surface of the valve board engaged by the valve being oblique one to the other.

VERNIE ROY BROWN.

ALBERT G. SABOL. 

